Safety holder for care of babies



Nov. 9, 1943. M. R. KOSTER SAFETY HOLDER FOR CARE OF BABIES Filed Oct. 24, 1940 gwuc ntm MARGARET R. KOSTER Snow;

Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES tATENT OFFICE 1 i I 2,333,652

ssFErYnoLmiR FOR cannon BABIES Margaret R. Koster, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application October 24, 1940, Serial No. 362,696

1. Claim.

This invention relate to a holder and is particularly related to a safety holding means for use while dressing babies.

In the care of babies git is often necessary for the mother or-nurse to perform the duties connected with the care of a baby without assistance from others. It is often' diflicult for a single person to perform these duties for the reason that it' is not felt that the baby being cared for is safe from falling unless both hands of the mother or other attendant are continuously used 'for holding the baby on a bed or table. With vigor ous babies, a compromise is usually the result with one hand holding the baby in place, the other being used to dress, wash, powder, undress the baby or perform any other necessary duty in connection with the babys care.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved device for holding babies, as for example while they are being dressed.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved holding device for babies which will be provided with a separable means forpassing between the legs and with separate means for holding the upper part of the babys body while the lower portion is being bathed.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the complete specification and claim.

Referring to the drawing wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention,

Fig. l is a plan view of a preferred form of my invention in extended or open position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the hinge.

Figs. 3 and 5 are detail views of the upper portion which holds the baby on the sheet.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, 20 designates the lower section and 2| the upper section of a safety cot which I may use with my invention. These two sections 20, 2| are each hinged to a central narrow section 22 as will be described.

Secured to the section 2| at each side, is a segment 23 which is provided with three notches 23a, 23b, 230 (Fig. 4)

It is to be noted that the center pivot 24 of the segment 23 is located adjacent the inner side of the section 2|. The segment 23 is pivoted between two coacting segments 25 and 25 and lies close between their two inner sides (see Fig. l).

The center pivot 24, already described serves as a hinge between the segment 23 and the segments 25, 26 which latter are secured rigidly with the central narrow section 22. is hinged to the bottom board 20a (Fig. 4) with suitable hinges 2T. When the parts 20 and 2| are folded the intermediate section 22 forms the end of the box structure of the cot. The abutting edges of the main section 20 and the intermediate section 22, with the hinges 21 form, in effect, a rule joint, which permits pivotal movement between limits.

A mattress 28 is composed of two sections 28a and 2812, connected together with a narrow web section 280. This web section 280 is attached to the upper adjacent edges of the mattress sections 28a, 28b to provide for a complete outer surface without having spaces which would be uncomfortable for the baby.

In order tohold the baby in place on the cot while washing or otherwise caring for the baby, I provide a specially shaped sheet and harness means. Attached to the cot is a sheet 30 which is secured to the cot sides as by tabs 3| and 32. On the inner or lower end is provided an extension 30a which is provided with snap buttons 300 along its sides to its free end 30b;

Shoulderstraps 30d are secured to the sheet 30' at suitable places and are provided with snap buttons 30c which coact with the coacting snap buttons on the holding member 33 as at 33d. These snap buttons hold the straps 30d in place and the particular snap button, which gives the proper length, is selected for use.

In order toprevent side movement of the baby while on the cot, there is provided on the adjustable upper holding member 33, straps 33a at its upper or outer edge. lhese straps 33a are of suiiicient length to permit their extending to the sides of the cot where they may be held in place by suitable snap buttons, coacting members of which are located on the straps 33a. and the sides of the cot as at 3%. Coacting with the snap buttons 300 of the sheet 30 are complementary snap buttons 330 on the inner or lower edge of the upper holding member 33.

When the baby is to be put in place and the holding sheet and upper member are to be used to provide a harness, the upper holding member is removed or loosened at the bottom and on one side. The baby having been put down on the sheet 30, the upper holding member 33 is passed over the body of the baby and the straps 33a secured. The snap buttons 30c and 330 are secured together between the babys legs. If desired the snap buttons 33b may have complementary member 30f in the sheet 30 to hold the baby more nearly in the center of the sheet.

The section 22 v In Figs. 3 and 5, particularly, I have illustrated an adjustable means for the central part of the upper portion 33 which illustrates more clearly structure shown in Fig. l.

Stitched as at 33] to the center of the upper portion 33 is a strap I33 which lies on a line with the straps 33a and has a series of snaps 33g on each side of the stitching. The body of the upper portion 33 has two folds 33h which are provided with snap button portions 332' which are complementary to the snaps 33g. By using different coacting snap members 339 and 332', difierent ad- J'ustments may be obtained for different sizes of children. This feature is particularly advantageous when the snaps 33a are used in coaction with snap members 30] which coaction has already been described.

After the upper member 33 is in place, the shoulder straps 30d are first brought over the shoulders of the baby and are then crossed, after which they are secured to the snap buttons 3311 onthe outer part of the upper member 33. When this is done the child is securely held in place. It is to be noted that a part of the upper member 33 has been broken away to show the attachment of the strap 3311 to the sheet 30.

It is sometimes necessary or desirable to raise the hinged section at an angle of, for example, 45 degrees or 90 degrees; to provide for this, there is a locking means to hold the parts in any of the several adjusted positions.

Pivoted in the narrow section-member 22 beneath the hinges 21, is a shaft 34. On each end of the shaft 34 is an arm 35 which is rigid with the shaft and has pivoted at its outer end a link 36 which has at its upper end a pin 31. This pin 31 extends through and operates loosely in a pair of slots 25a, 26a in ears 25b, 261) on the upper respective edges of the segments 25, 26.

The slots 25a, 26a are in position and of such a length that they cooperate with the notches 23a, 23b, 230, to permit the pin 3'l to drop into one thereof, when in registry therewith.

When it is desired to change the relative adjustment between the two sections of the cot, it is only necessary to raise the end of either arm 35 where it is pivoted to its link 36. This in turn rotates the shaft 34 sufliciently to raise the opposite arm 35, thus lifting the links 36 and the pins 31 to a point where they clear the notches 23a, 23b, 230. By placing the hinged cot section at the desired angle and releasing the pins 31, the

ill

latter will drop into the appropriate notch 23a, 23b, or 230 and the two cot sections will be maintained at this angle.

The outer sides of the pivoted sections 20, 2| register with each other when the cot is in folded position, the mattress being compressed equally throughout its area. Suitable catch or fastening members 38, 38a are provided to secure and hold the folded members in closed position. Any suitable handle or carrying means may be provided. i e 3 It is to be noted that no solid orfiexible bottom is. shown on the drawing and that the omission of any showing is for the sake of clearness of illustration.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a safety cot for the care of babies which can be used not only while washing or powdering the baby but also as a seat where the child may sit inclined or upright and also as a bed while travelling or at home.

This construction provides a soft bed .upon which to place the baby. for ,washing-andother care. The upper part of the body, armsfand legs can be reached with'the baby securely'held while it is only necessary to loosen the lower or inner edges of the parts 3 0 and 33 to reach the body ofthebaby.

While I have illustrated and described my invention indetail it is to be understood that the disclosures are merely illustrative andlthat modie fications and changes may be made 'without. de-

parting from the spirit of the invention and with in its scope as claimed.. I I Having described my invention, what I claim 1s:

A device to be used in thecare of babies comprising, in combination: a flexible lower sheet having-portions to be attached to a baby-supporting surface,- a lower portion to pass between the legs of a baby and shoulder straps secured thereto and adapted to pass over the shoulders of a baby when laid on said sheet; a second upper flexible sheet having a lower portion adapted to be. detachably secured to the lower portion of the first named sheet, and. other portions to which said shoulder straps may be attached when passed-over the shoulders of the baby and portions to be attached to said supporting surface, whereby to prevent a baby wriggling out of the device or ofi from said surface in any direction. MARGARET R. KOSTER. 

